Side channel compressor

ABSTRACT

Side channel compressor, in which the gap (7) existing between the rotor (2) and the housing parts (1) surrounding the rotor (2) is sealed off using a sealing tape (8) introduced into a peripheral groove (9) provided in the corresponding wall regions of the housing parts (1). An impairment of the operability of the side channel compressor by a sealing tape attached to the housing is largely ruled out, in that the sealing tape (8) is held by a solidifying compound (10) which is introduced into groove widenings (11) provided at a plurality of points located in a distributed manner over the circumference of the peripheral groove (9) and which makes a positive connection with the sealing tape (8).

This application has been filed under 35 U.S.C. 371 and claims foreignpriority benefits under 35 U.S.C. 119 of PCT/DE96/01626, filed Sep. 2,1996, which is based upon German patent application Serial#: 195 33922.3, filed Sep. 13, 1995.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a side channel compressor in which a gapexisting between a rotor and housing parts surrounding the rotor issealed off using a sealing tape introduced into a peripheral grooveprovided in corresponding wall regions of the housing parts.

RELATED TECHNOLOGY

Such a side channel compressor is known from DE-A-22 44 933. In thisknown side channel compressor, a sealing tape is inserted into a grooveof the housing cover, the said groove extending in each casetransversely relative to the plane of the gap existing between the rotorand the housing. During the assembly of the side channel compressor,this sealing tape can be brought into its position by means of the rotoritself. The sealing tape is then fixed in this position in various ways,inter alia also by means of an adhesive or sealing compound. After thealignment of the sealing tape, the adhesive or sealing compound isintroduced into the groove via corresponding perforations accessiblefrom the outside. In this case, some of the compound may escape from thegroove and bond with the rotor, with the result that the latter may jamand the compressor may not start up. Moreover, in the course of theoperating time of the side channel compressor, the bond of the adhesiveor sealing compound may come loose from the smooth wall face of thesealing tape.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object on which the present invention is based is to develop a sidechannel compressor of the relevant generic type, in such a way that animpairment of the operability of the side channel compressor by asealing tape attached to the housing is largely ruled out.

The present invention therefore provides a side channel compressor inwhich the sealing tape is held by a solidifying compound which isintroduced into groove widenings provided at a plurality of pointslocated in a distributed manner over the circumference of the peripheralgroove and which makes a positive connection with the sealing tape.Since a solidifying compound is introduced only at a few points of theperipheral groove, the risk that the rotor will jam because too muchcompound has been introduced is virtually ruled out. A permanentretention of the sealing tape is afforded by the positive connectionbetween the compound and the sealing tape.

If the groove widenings are designed as pocketlike widenings accessiblefrom the inside of the housing parts, then the compound can beintroduced only from inside the housing into this widening andconsequently the escape of the compound out of these widenings can beobserved and appropriately prevented.

The positive connection between the compound and the sealing tape isachieved in the simplest way using depressions which are provided on thesealing tape and into which the compound penetrates, or using elevationson the sealing tape which are embedded by the compound.

It is also advantageous to provide on the sealing tape bores orperforations which are at least partially filled with the compound andwhich thus ensure a satisfactory positive connection of the compound tothe sealing tape. A material strip consisting of Teflon can be providedespecially advantageously as sealing tape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is described in more detail below by depicting aplurality of portions of a side channel compressor which are representedin part cross-section. In the drawing:

FIG. 1 shows a sealing arrangement in a side channel compressor with anon-fastened portion of the sealing tape,

FIG. 2 shows a portion designed for fastening the sealing tape, and

FIG. 3 shows the portion shown in FIG. 2, after the introduction of asolidifying compound.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the number 1 denotes a housing halfand number 2 the rotor of a side channel compressor. The rotor 2 has, ina known way, a base ring 5 fitted with feed vanes 3 and carried by thehub 4 of the rotor 2. A side channel 6 is formed on the housing half 1.The housing of the side channel compressor is completed by a furtherhousing half not shown in the drawing and corresponding to the housinghalf 1. As a consequence of the mode of operation, a gap 7 existsbetween the housing halves and the rotor 2. Since this gap 7 extendsover the entire circumference of the rotor and housing, in a sidechannel compressor a flow is established from the region of higherpressure to the region of lower pressure. The feed volume andconsequently the efficiency of the side channel compressor arediminished as a result of this flow. In order as far as possible toprevent such a flow loss, the gap 7 is appropriately sealed off using asealing arrangement.

This sealing arrangement comprises a sealing tape 8 which is insertedinto a peripheral groove 9 formed opposite the base ring 5 of the rotor2 in the respective housing half 1. The sealing tape 8 is retained usinga compound 10 introduced into the peripheral groove 9 at a few points onthe circumference of the latter. This compound 10 has the property ofsolidifying only to a particular degree, but not of hardening, that isto say the compound still has some elasticity in the solidified state.So that the compound 10 can easily be introduced into the peripheralgroove 9, pocket-like widenings 11 are provided in the region of theperipheral groove 9 at the corresponding points. The opening side 12 ofthese widenings 11 is located on the inside of the respective housinghalf 1. The compound 10 can consequently be introduced into theperipheral groove 9 only from here, so that an escape of the compound 10out of the peripheral groove 9 or the pocket-like widening 11 is noticedand any compound 10 which has escaped can be eliminated.

Provided in the sealing tape 8 are bores 13 which are arranged in thesealing tape 8 in such a way that, when the sealing tape 8 is insertedinto the peripheral groove 9, they each come to rest in a pocket-likewidening 11. When the compound 10 is being introduced into thepocket-like widening 11, some of the compound 10 penetrates into thebores 13 and fills these at least partially. This results in a positiveconnection between the compound 10 and the sealing tape 8, so that thelatter is secured in the peripheral groove 9 by the compound 10.

Before the housing half 1 is assembled together with the rotor 2, thesealing tape 8 is inserted into the peripheral groove 9 and the compound10 is introduced into the pocket-like widenings 11. Since the compound10 is still soft at first, during the assembly of the housing halves 1together with the rotor 2 the sealing tape 8 is correspondingly pressedinto the peripheral groove 9 by the base ring 5 of the rotor 2, the saidbase ring butting against the said sealing tape. The sealing tape 8 thusbears flush on the base ring 5. The sealing tape 8 is held in thisoptimum sealing position by the gradually solidifying compound 10.

Since slight skew positions cannot be ruled out completely when therotor 2 is being mounted on its drive shaft, corresponding wobblingmovements occur during the rotation of the rotor 2. For this reason, theuse of a material strip comprising of TEFLON as sealing tape isespecially advantageous, since such a sealing tape 8 can grind itself inaccording to the wobbling movements and a good sealing effect is thusstill maintained.

What is claimed is:
 1. A side-channel compressor, comprising:a rotor; ahousing surrounding the rotor, the housing being spaced from the rotorby a gap and having a peripheral groove, the peripheral groove having aplurality of groove widenings located in a distributed manner about acircumference of the peripheral groove, the groove widenings beingpocket-like widenings accessible from an inside of the housing; asealing tape located in the gap and peripheral groove for sealing thegap; and a solidifying compound located in the plurality of groovewidenings for creating a positive connection with the sealing tape. 2.The side-channel compressor as recited in claim 1 wherein thedepressions are bores or perforations filled with the solidifyingcompound.
 3. The side-channel compressor as recited in claim 1 whereinthe sealing tape has depressions or elevations for interacting with thesolidifying compound.
 4. The side-channel compressor as recited in claim3 wherein the depressions are bores or perforations filled with thesolidifying compound.
 5. The side-channel compressor as recited in claim3 wherein the sealing tape is comprised of TEFLON.
 6. The side-channelcompressor as recited in claim 1 wherein the sealing tape is comprisedof TEFLON.